Planning process for an operational management platform for a public transport

This work addresses the planning process of a public passenger transport operator, including the generation of schedules and services for vehicles and drivers, in the framework of a previously agreed service. This problem will be studied in the context of all stages of the planning process: parameterization, preparation, production of performance indicators and the generation of results for different operational scenarios.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Planning process for an operational management platform for a public transport

This work addresses the planning process of a public passenger transport operator, including the generation of schedules and services for vehicles and drivers, in the framework of a previously agreed service. This problem will be studied in the context of all stages of the planning process: parameterization, preparation, production of performance indicators and the generation of results for different operational scenarios.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Synergistic effect of simvastatin and ezetimibe on lipid and pro-inflammatory profiles in pre-diabetic subjects

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ezetimibe specifically blocks the absorption of dietary and biliary cholesterol and plant sterols. Synergism of ezetimibe-statin therapy on LDL-cholesterol has been demonstrated, but data concerning the pleiotropic effects of this combination are controversial.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>This open-label trial evaluated whether the combination of simvastatin and ezetimibe also results in a synergistic effect that reduces the pro-inflammatory status of pre-diabetic subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fifty pre-diabetic subjects were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups, one receiving ezetimibe (10 mg/day), the other, simvastatin (20 mg/d) for 12 weeks, followed by an additional 12-week period of combined therapy. Blood samples were collected at baseline, 12 and 24 weeks. RESULTS: Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels decreased in all the periods analyzed (p < 0.01), but triglycerides declined significantly only after combined therapy. Both drugs induced reductions in C-reactive protein, reaching statistical significance after combining ezetimibe with the simvastatin therapy (baseline 0.59 ± 0.14, simvastatin monotherapy 0.48 ± 0.12 mg/dL and 0.35 ± 0.12 mg/dL, p < 0.023). Such a reduction was independent of LDL-cholesterol change. However, mean levels of TNF-α and interleukin-6 and leukocyte count did not vary during the whole study.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Expected synergistic lowering effects of a simvastatin and ezetimibe combination on LDL-cholesterol, apolipoprotein B and triglycerides levels were confirmed in subjects with early disturbances of glucose metabolism. We suggest an additive effect of this combination also on inflammatory status based on the reduction of C-reactive protein. Attenuation of pro-inflammatory conditions may be relevant in reducing cardiometabolic risk.</p> <p>Title/ID of trial registration</p> <p>Effect of simvastatin and ezetimibe on lipid and inflammation/NCT01103648.</p

ASSOCIATION AMONG FLUID, GRAIN INTAKE AND WEIGHT GAIN IN HOLSTEIN BULL CALVES

This study was conducted to determine water intake. Forty-four Holstein bull calves were evaluated to investigate the effects of starter intake, body weight, temperature and time to predict water intake. A model was developed using PROC GLM in SAS. Least square means separation were used to identify significant effects. Starter intake was a significant variable (P < 0.05) in predicting the water intake of a calf, especially after day 21 when starter intake and water intake were both increasing. Water intake was increased by calves with fecal scores of 1 and 2. However, water intake was significantly different for calves with fecal scores of 3 or 4 with a (P < 0.05) which had decreased water intake. The interaction between scours and fecal score were not significant. Water intakes significantly differ in calves that had scour and in calves not experimented scours

Overcoming inertia : drivers of the outsourcing process

Almost all managers have directly or indirectly been involved in the practice of outsourcing in recent years. But as they know, outsourcing is not straightforward. Outsourcing inertia, when companies are slow to adapt to changing circumstances that accommodate higher outsourcing levels, may undermine a firm’s performance. This article investigates the presence of outsourcing inertia and the factors that help managers overcome it. Using statistical evidence, we show that positive performance effects related to outsourcing can accumulate when circumstances change. This is then followed by rapid increases in outsourcing levels (i.e. outsourcing processes). We investigate what gives rise to these outsourcing processes through follow-up interviews with sourcing executives, which suggest five drivers behind outsourcing processes: managerial initiative (using outside experience); hierarchy (foreign headquarters); imitation (of competitors and of similar firms); outsider advice (from external institutions); knowledge sources (using external information). These five drivers all offer scope for managerial action. We tie them to academic literatures and suggest ways of investigating their presence and impact on the outsourcing process. Overall, we conclude that while economizing factors play a key role in explaining how much firms outsource, it is socializing factors that tend to drive outsourcing processes

Photopedology and orbital spectral pedology on the evaluation of soils developed from basalt

O Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) é um dos principais produtores do setor agropecuário brasileiro. Entretanto, para manter essa condição, terá que ter à disposição metodologias que auxiliem no planejamento do uso racional de suas terras. Desta forma, tornam-se necessárias pesquisas que visem obter métodos de investigação dos solos que atuem de forma rápida, sejam eficazes e, principalmente, de baixo custo. Sabendo-se que o relevo é importante fator de formação dos solos e que fotos aéreas detectam a variação de superfície, espera-se que, juntamente com informações espectrais quantitativas da superfície, possam caracterizar e discriminar solos ou grupamento de solos na paisagem. Assim, este estudo teve por objetivos: (a) identificar diferentes classes de solos e verificar suas relações com os aspectos qualitativos e quantitativos da paisagem; (b) utilizar dados radiométricos de imagens de satélite para discriminar classes ou grupamento de solos. Para tal, foi avaliada a relação entre a classificação dos solos e os aspectos da rede de drenagem, obtidos através da interpretação de fotografias aéreas, e dados espectrais, conseguidos através da análise de imagens de satélite, de 14 amostras circulares (ACs) da região de Maracaju (MS), onde os solos são desenvolvidos a partir de basaltos. A densidade de drenagem (Dd) apresentou correlação com o índice de intemperismo (Ki) e com a saturação de bases do solo (V%), permitindo discriminar classes de solos dentro da área de estudo com 85,7 % de certeza, enquanto os dados espectrais somente discriminaram solos quanto às classes texturais da camada superficial. Além disso, observou-se que nos solos com teores de Fe2O3 acima de 180 g kg-1 a diferenciação por classes texturais foi prejudicada mediante o do uso das imagens de satélite.The state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) is one of the main Brazilian producers in the agricultural sector. To maintain this status, however, it will be necessary both to know and use rationally its soil resources. This way, it will be necessary methods of soil research that are efficient and fast in obtain information, as well as of low-cost to support land use planning. Since relief is an important factor of soil formation, aerial photos and satellite images analysis can be used to detect landscape features that help to characterize and discriminate soils. Therefore, the goals of this study were: (a) to identify different soil classes and verify their relationships with landscape aspects by the interpretation of aerial photos; and (b) to use radiometric data, obtained from satellite images analysis, to discriminate soils or groups of soils on landscape. To do so, it was evaluated the relationship between soil classes and relief and drainage aspects, obtained by the interpretation of aerial photos in conjunction with spectral data obtained by satellite image analysis of 14 circular samples (CS) of the Maracaju city in the MS state. The drainage density (Dd), determined in the CS, showed positive correlation with the soil Ki index and base saturation (V%) index, thus allowing discriminate soil classes of the studied area with 85.7 % of certainty, whereas the spectral data only discriminated soils by the textural classes of their surface layer. On the other hand, it was also observed that soils with Fe2O3 content higher than 180 g kg-1 had their textural classes poorly differentiated by using the spectral data

The Herschel Planetary Nebula Survey (HerPlaNS) - a comprehensive dusty photoionization model of NGC6781

We perform a comprehensive analysis of the planetary nebula (PN) NGC6781 to investigate the physical conditions of each of its ionized, atomic, and molecular gas and dust components and the object's evolution, based on panchromatic observational data ranging from UV to radio. Empirical nebular elemental abundances, compared with theoretical predictions via nucleosynthesis models of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, indicate that the progenitor is a solar-metallicity, 2.25-3.0 Msun initial-mass star. We derive the best-fit distance of 0.46 kpc by fitting the stellar luminosity (as a function of the distance and effective temperature of the central star) with the adopted post-AGB evolutionary tracks. Our excitation energy diagram analysis indicate high excitation temperatures in the photodissociation region (PDR) beyond the ionized part of the nebula, suggesting extra heating by shock interactions between the slow AGB wind and the fast PN wind. Through iterative fitting using the Cloudy code with empirically-derived constraints, we find the best-fit dusty photoionization model of the object that would inclusively reproduce all of the adopted panchromatic observational data. The estimated total gas mass (0.41 Msun) corresponds to the mass ejected during the last AGB thermal pulse event predicted for a 2.5 Msun initial-mass star. A significant fraction of the total mass (about 70 percent) is found to exist in the PDR, demonstrating the critical importance of the PDR in PNe that are generally recognized as the hallmark of ionized/H+ regions.Comment: 34 pages, 13 Figures and 16 Tables, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Supplement Serie

Prevalence and correlates of childhood anemia in the MINA-Brazil birth cohort study

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and predictors of childhood anemia in an Amazonian population-based birth cohort study. METHODS: We estimated the prevalence of maternal anemia at delivery (hemoglobin [Hb] concentration &lt; 110 g/L) in women participating in the MINA-Brazil birth cohort study and in their children examined at 1 and 2 years (Hb &lt; 110 g/L) and at 5 years of age (Hb &lt; 115 g/L). We measured ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor, and C-reactive protein concentrations in mothers at delivery and in their 1- and 2-year old children to estimate the prevalence of iron deficiency and its contribution to anemia, while adjusting for potential confounders by multiple Poisson regression analysis (adjusted relative risk [RRa]). RESULTS: The prevalence 95% confidence interval (CI) of maternal anemia, iron deficiency, and iron-deficiency anemia at delivery were 17.3% (14.0–21.0%), 42.6% (38.0–47.2%), and 8.7% (6.3–11.6)%, respectively (n = 462). At age 1 year (n = 646), 42.2% (38.7–45.8%) of the study children were anemic, 38.4% (34.6–42.3%) were iron-deficient, and 26.3 (23.0–29.9) had iron-deficiency anemia. Prevalence had decreased to 12.8% (10.6–15.2%), 18.1% (15.5–21.1%), and 4.1% (2.8–5.7%), respectively, at 2 years (n = 761); at 5 years of age, 5.2% (3.6–7.2%) children were anemic (n = 655). Iron deficiency (RRa = 2.19; 95%CI: 1.84–2.60) and consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPF) (RRa = 1.56; 95%CI: 1.14–2.13) were significant contributors to anemia at 1 year, after adjusting for maternal schooling. At 2 years, anemia was significantly associated with maternal anemia at delivery (RRa: 1.67; 95%CI: 1.17–2.39), malaria since birth (2.25; 1.30–3.87), and iron deficiency (2.15; 1.47–3.15), after adjusting for child ’s age and household’s wealth index. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia continues to be highly prevalent during pregnancy and early childhood in the Amazon. Public health policies should address iron deficiency, UPF intake, maternal anemia, and malaria in order to prevent and treat anemia in Amazonian children

Michael Porter 30 anos depois de Estratégia Competitiva: Influência do autor nos trabalhos brasileiros em estratégia ? estudo bibliométrico em trabalhos dos últimos dez anos do Enanpad

Os estudos de estratégia empresarial têm sido muito influenciados pelos trabalhos de Michael Porter, em particular na estratégia competitiva, análise da indústria e das vantagens competitivas das nações. Neste artigo, analisamos a influência de Porter nos trabalhos brasileiros em estratégia, a partir dos trabalhos selecionados e apresentados no ENANPAD. No levantamento para a análise dos artigos, considerando 10 anos de ENANPAD (1997 ? 2006), foram selecionados 46 artigos. A identificação e seleção dos artigos envolveram os seguintes critérios: busca complementar por palavra-chave Porter na base de dados do ENANPAD; avaliação dos títulos e resumos dos artigos apresentados na área de estratégia entre 1997 e 2006, bem como na íntegra quando necessário. Procedemos também à análise das referências utilizadas nos artigos e o posicionamento dos autores em relação as tipologias de Porter. Na primeira parte revemos brevemente aspectos fundamentais sobre estratégia desenvolvido por Porter. Na segunda parte apresentamos a metodologia seguida da coleta dos dados e fazemos à análise dos resultados. Concluímos com uma discussão geral, apresentando nossas considerações finais sobre a importância dos trabalhos de Porter para a pesquisa brasileira em estratégia.Michael Porter, Vantagem competitiva, Estratégia, Enanpad